SIOUX CENTER—After a spin and lift, Lyle Wielenga dips his wife Hannah back toward the floor as the song comes to an end only for another to take its place.
The lively, upbeat music keeps the couple and about 28 others out on the dance floor, right where they came to be Friday, Aug. 5.
The mix of singles and couples filled the Dogwood Dance Hall southwest of Rock Valley with laughter and plenty of movement swing style thanks to Midwest Swing Dance Co. hosting the end-of-summer event. The monthly dances are held at Dogwood Dancehall but will move to The Triple Box south of Orange City in 2023.
Hosting a pop-up swing dance at the first Sioux Center Arts Picnic 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at Children’s Park, 840 Fourth Ave. SE, Sioux Center is next up for the company that’s spent five years helping Sioux County residents and beyond get into the swing of things through hosting swing dance classes and dance hall events.
“It’s so much fun,” Hannah said. “Swing includes basic steps but after knowing those, dancers can have creative freedom to make the dance their own.”
Hannah, 27, of Hull found swing dancing to be fun and a way she could enjoy movement.
“I had three back surgeries growing up so I never played sports like a lot of kids did,” she said. “When I encountered swing dancing, it looked like fun and I found I could do it without pain. I was hooked.”
Lyle Wielenga of Hull dips his wife Hannah while swing dancing Aug. 5 at Midwest Swing Dance Co.’s end-of-summer dance at Dogwood Dancehall southwest of Rock Valley.
Since moving back to Sioux County in May, Hannah now helps teach classes for the company she’s been connected to since its founding by Eric Rowe of Sioux Center and Courtney Johnson of Hull in 2018.
Formerly known as Sioux Center Swing Dance, Rowe and Johnson began the company after Sioux Center Arts approached the dance partners asking if they’d be interested in hosting more adult classes for the community.
“And this came up as an idea,” Johnson said.
Johnson, 27, grew up dancing at Robin’s School of Dance in Sioux Center, then joined the dance team at Western Christian High School in Hull.
“Though I was a dancer since I was little, I didn’t feel comfortable on any social dance floor — school dances, weddings, parties, etc. — until I learned how to swing dance,” he said. “While I was confident dancing a choreographed dance, anything improvised was out of the question. It was awkward and so was I.”
She learned to swing dance because she had heard about a Swing Dance Club forming at Dordt University while she was attending Northwest Iowa Community College for photography.
“I wasn’t a student but the community embraced me with open arms,” she said. “It took a great leap of faith to go into a new place, dance with new people and try something that I had never been brave enough to do before. Since then, I have learned to actually enjoy being on the dance floor especially with those who also know how to swing dance. Not only do I feel confident in my abilities, but also in myself as a person. I no longer feel the need to impress, or at least not to embarrass myself, on the dance floor, as well as in other areas of life.
“Swing dance has taught me that it’s OK to have fun and to be my truest self. It’s OK to not be perfect, and it’s OK to mess up! Swing dancing has taught me how to be free. Now I get to serve and help others feel that beautiful freedom by teaching lessons. I get pure joy from seeing a light bulb go on for my students. When they get it and are proud of themselves, I truthfully get a little choked up.”
Midwest Swing Dance Co. owner Courtney Johnson swing dances with friend Zach Stoner during the Aug. 5 end-of-summer dance event at Dogwood Dancehall southwest of Rock Valley.
Johnson and her husband, Marcus, along with former swing dance students turned teachers lead a five-week session of classes each fall and spring at the Children’s Park shelter house in Sioux Center for those who want an in-depth and fun learning experience and want to improve their skills. Beginner and intermediate classes are offered. They even recently added an advanced class for the first time.
“We started hosting pop-up classes so that anyone who can’t commit to a five-week course, whether they’re too busy or can’t find a sitter, can join in on the fun for a one night date night or night out with friends,” Johnson said.
Midwest Swing Dance Co. also hosts semimonthly dances, small group and private lessons and they’ve hosted lessons and events for students at Northwestern College in Orange City and Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD.
They also have a new online beginner class for anyone who can’t make it in person.
“We hope that more businesses, schools, churches and other organizations will utilize our teaching for events, parties and fundraisers,” Johnson said, noting a father-daughter class could also be in the company’s future.
Anywhere from two to 200 people come to their events, depending on the activity and the available space. Ages 13-85 have come for lessons or just to dance.
“What draws people is that they’re looking for something fun to do that’s safe yet challenging and gives you a reason to dress up,” Johnson said. “We have a lot of young couples that join our classes, which is the perfect date night! Its also a great way for individuals to forge wonderful friendships.”
Of course, people can go to the practices wearing whatever is comfortable to them.
She also enjoys squashing the myth people believe when they say they can’t dance.
“My answer to this is that you don’t need to keep a beat to dance, you just need to start with the basics and work your way up,” she said. “What’s the point of keeping a beat if you don’t know the first thing about dancing? Our method allows even new dancers to start from scratch and slowly build off of a basic step, so that anyone can do it. Once our students become familiar with the footwork, then they can master dancing along with a beat to any style of music.”
Another worry that people have about dancing is that they may not have a dance partner.
“The great thing about swing dancing is that plenty of singles come to our events and share dance partners throughout the night,” Johnson said. “You don’t need to be married or have a date to have fun. In fact, dancing with a variety of other dancers helps you become a better dance partner.
“Believe it or not, social dancing used to give me anxiety and make me feel super awkward, but learning how to swing dance changed everything for me. Now I’m able to have fun and feel free anywhere there’s dancing! And I get to share that joy by teaching others how to dance, too.”
Stay tuned to the company’s Facebook page for details on upcoming classes, pop-up events and social dances.